Pie container and display support



Jan; 19, 1937. w. EHRLICH P IE CONTAINER AND DISPLAY SUPPORT Filed April 28, l933 Patentecl Jan. 19, 1937 b PATENT OFFICE PIE CONTAINER AND DISPLAY SUPPORT William Ehrlich, Chicago, Ill. assignor of fortyfive per cent to Albert J. Fihe, Chicago.lll.

Application April 28, 1933, Serial N0. 668,362 7 Claims. (01. 20644) This invention relates to an improved pie container and displaYsupport, and has for one of it-s principal objects the provision of a combined container and display support for pies, cake or the like which, in addition to making an attractive and desirable display means, also provides an actual support for such food products as pies and cakes, and which can also be used equaily easily for other similar articles of merchandise.

One of the important objects of the invention is to provide a container for pies, cakes and the like Which, in addition to s uitably containing and supporting the same for handling and shipment, shall also produce an element which, in 15 combination with the pie or cake itself, will result in a very attractive and satisfactory display package whereby sales are enhanced.

Another important object of the invention resides in the production of a supporting and dis- 20 play means for various articles of merchandise which shall be simple of manufacture, economical in construction, easily applied, and as readily removed whenever desired, -without in any way damagihg the contained article of merchandise.

O.ther and further important obj ects of. the invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the accompanying draWing and following specification. y

The inventionin a preferred form, is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter mo1e fully described.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the prepared blank from which the improved combination display 35 container of this invention is produced.

Figure 2 is a sectionalview taken on' the line 2-2 of Figure 1, looking in the direction indi cated by the arrows.

' Figure 3 is a sectional view, showing the im- 40 proved display Container of this invention as appliecl to a pie.

Figure 4 is a sectional vi'ew of a modification of the invention, showing the same as used in conjunction with cakes or similar articles.

45 Figure 5 is a view siinilar to Figure 2, illustrating a slightly modified form of the inve'ntion.

Figure 6 is.a perspective view, illustrating the improved means for removing the Elisplay coutainer from the commodity when desired.

As shown in the drawing:

The reference numeral I0 indicates generally a strip of cardboard or the like, th'e edges of which are bent over into top and bottom portions I2 and I4 respectively these top'and bottom por- 55 tions being rimped or corrugated in any suitable or preferred mnn er.

As best illustrated in Figures 3'and 6, the prepared strip of cardboard is then formed into a circula'r or oval hoop, the adjoining overlapped ends being connected by means of staples I6 or by some other suitable means. The outside face ofthe device can then be covered w ith a suit'- 'able label or some ornamental strip or otherwise into this space is adapted to be fitted the periphery of a pie plate 01 the like I8, which pie plate may be composed of the 1;sual paper pulp or of any other suitabie or desired material. 1ne pie proper is in the plate as illustrated at 20 and the top of the pie 22 extends for some little distancc above the upper edges of the plate in accordance with the usual practice.

The top of the pie is preliminarily covered With a layer of some protective material, preferably a tough and transparent sheet 24 of the cellulose type such as can be obtained in the markets, and this sheet is of such a size as to extend completely over the edges of the pie and be gripped between the cooperating edges of the elements I2 and I 4 and the main body portion of the display container. Y

The display container is applied to the covered pie by merely fitting the same thereover and pressing downwardly, after which the fingers of the operator are inserted under the bottom edges of the container element, and the pie plate I8 pushed upwardly until'the edge thereof snaps into position in the space between the edges of the elements I2 and I4, whereupon it is securely gripped; and the transparent protective covering positively retained in desired position. II; Will be noted that the height of the dispiay container is substantially in excess of the height of the pie itse1f so that the bottoxn of the pie plate I8 is raised-from a counter or other Support, thereby prociucing an iilusion of additional height 0r thi(:kness while at the same time protecting the bottom of the plate against contact with undesirable foreign substances.

The containers III may be made of any desired d1'ameten. so as to accommodate pies of various sizes and may also be made of difl'erent: heights, as necessary' or desirable.

As best shown in Figure 6, a certain portion of the element III is scored or cut as indicated ab 26 to forrzi a tab which can be grasp'ed by the fingers and pulled downwardly tobreak the continuity I of Ihr: display container, this action being accelerated and facilitated by means of scored portions 28 f01ming prolongations of the cuts. whereby a simple downward puli on the tab 26 will result in an immediate removal of the dispiay container from its position around the pie or other article, which is then riaady for consumption or use. As shown in Figure 4, a similar display container 30 can be used with cakes 32 or the like,

the cake or similar object being supported on a fiat platform br the like 34 which is preferably composedof cardboard, and which may be of square, rectangular circular, ellipticalor other shape, the display Container 30 being accordingly shaped.

When the display container 30 is used for 01bjects of substantial height such as the cake 342, the upper inwardly turned fianges 36 are pref-' erably made longer than the lower fianges 318, although the relative dimensions of these flanges may, of course, be varied with respect to the dimensions of'the container and. with respect to 'each other, as found necessary or desirable.

As s hown, the cake 32 is also preferably covered with a transparent layer cf some protective cellulose material 40 wherebythe same is, like the pie, protected against the accumulation of dust and dirt, or contact of human hands or fpreign materials therewith, and-at the same time, due to the imperviousnature of the covering and the protective action of the display container itself,

' the contents are kept in a fresh and. more desirable condition.

The locking action of the inturned elements 36 and 38 with respect t o the supporting platform 34 and the trarisparent covering 40 is simllar to the locking acti0n accomplishedby the CO1- responding elements shown in Figure 3. 4

As best illustrated in Figure 5 a modificatio of the invention inay be provided which embodieg an outer circumferential element 42 having an in-turned lower supporting flange 44 similar to the flanges I4 and. 38, but instead of an in-turned upper flange, an integral bead 46 is forrrxed 'by simply turning the upper edge of the strip 42 inwardly and thence outwardly and again downwardly to form a rounded rim which will eooperate with the upper edge f the corresponding element 40 to m'aintain the periphery cf any related supportihg element or container device in proper and corresponding contact therewith.

It will be evident that herein is provided a display container and support which can be readily manufactured in an economical manner, which can 'be easily applied to various articles 0f 'merchandise for 'handling and display purposes, and particularly those articles 015 merchandise which on'account of their natura are provides a constrction which is eminently satisfactory, while at the same time providing cansiderable economies; first, by producing a, structure which is 'considerably Iess in expense than an entire -coating of the transparent cellulose material; and second.by eliminating a good. dea'l of labor in applicationy: and last, by ir'xsuring against loss and spoilage due to handling or early deterioration.

I am aware that many changes may be made and nuxnerous details of construction varied throughout a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon other'wise than as pecessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my inventin:

1. A band for use in making pie papkges corhprising a slrlgle strip of material formed into a hoop, integral preformed inturned "continuous fianges on the upper and lower edges of.the strip wherebythe same may be brought down over a pie plate having a diameter less than the internal diameter of the body portionof the hoopl-and greater than'the least normal internal diameter of the flanges and snapped into engagemen't therewith.

2.A combined display container and sup.port including a single strip of material formed into a hoop with integral preformed inturned (30131? tinuous fianges an the edges thereof and a supporting element having its peripheral edge posibetween the edges of saidinturned flanges and a cover element clamped between the edge of the platform and the inner face of the hoop.

4. A combined display container andsupport for articles cf merchandise comprising a supporting platform, a peripheral band applied to the edges of the platform and integral preformed inturned continuous .corrugated fianges an both edges of. the band whereby the same may be brought down over the platforrn until the edges of the 'platform are positioned in the space formed by the inside face of the band and the handand the opposed edges of its fianges.

6. A band for display packages comprising a Single strip of material formed into a hoop and gripping means including inturnedpreforme d continuous flanges on the edges of the hoop, said flangeshaving inherent resiliency and being normally inclined inwardly with the free edges thereof spaced from each other to form an annular recess whereby the hoop may be. brought down over a member to be gripped and whereupon one o i the flanges flexes and then springs back all7wing the element to be gripped to be snapped intothe recess.

A display package including a single strip Of material formed into a hoop, a supporting element associatedtvith the hoop and gripping means including in rned preforme'd continous fianges on the edges of the hoop, said fianges having inherent resiliency and bein'g normally inclined inwardly with the free edges thereof spaced frome'ach other t9 form an annular re= cess whereby the hoop inay be brought down over the suppoiting element and whereupon one of the fianges flexes and the n springs back into gripping position with the sgpporting element.

WILLIAM EHRLICH. 

